Kane 4th overall
Bogosian 3rd overall
Eichel 2nd
Reinhart 2nd
Ristolainen 8th overall


We have 5 former top 10 picks. We have no room to talk

I'd trade places with the Oilers any day of the week.

They got the better player in 2014 and 2015.
- sbroads24

If we don't see a 90+ point season after this year, I am going to start panicking.

No, sorry. 4 1st overall picks and 5 in the top 3 is your franchise.
- JVince11

But we didn't finish last for two of those

Why does winning the lottery prove your point?

You understand that if you finish last 3 years in a row, that'll be something no one has achieved right?

This is embarassing talking about who's worse...

"All you ever hear" ???

This your new contention now that rebuild narrative had been proven unequivocally false?


I don't think I've ever heard anybody say they shoulda got ekblad. We're happy with Leon. Changing the draft rules was brought up because we got Connor, so the discussion started. And we got into how silly it is to say the oilers should be better and then use Yakupov drafted at 1 as a reason. It makes no sense.

I've never even stated that it's ok we're at where we are, I simply stated that your contentions were far too simplistic and ignored any context and logic
- HB77

I'm glad you're happy with Leon, he's a darn fine player. And, Yes, we have heard quite a bit about how missing out on McKinnon and Ekblad is one of the excuses for the Oilers whoas. You even tried to make the assumption in an earlier post.

The point still remains, regardless of the reasons Edmonton is yet again in the basement, being coaching, management, draft selection, needing help on defense etc... The Oilers are a stacked team, and have been for some time now. You should be scoring 6-7 goals a game and winning 2/3 of your schedule by that method alone. Move some offense already for capable defensemen, but definitely do not allow the first selection to go to Edmonton. There are much more deserving teams at this point who need Matthews.

Please take the homer glasses off and realize criticizing the Oilers is becoming more ironic by the day
- sbroads24

Your argument is completely invalid.

We have not picked first since like 1977. They have picked 1st 4 times in the last 10 years.

We have picked top 3 only twice in the last 10 years.. they have picked top 3 5 times.


Again... please take off your "hater" glasses.

the entire direction of the conversation kinda went askew.
I simply defended the false narrative far too many try and sell. They took it as sabre bashing, but it was just meant to infuse some logic and context


The oilers being bad 6 years into a rebuild kills me and hall/nuge shoulda been insulated earlier.
- HB77

The fact is the draft isn't all that matters. So criticizing Edmonton for having a bad team with a bunch of high draft picks is pretty lame. The moves outside the picks is what's held them back.

I can't wait to hear the crickets if the Sabres win the lottery and get Matthews and have 3 top 2 picks in 3 years, and get super defensive if anyone says a word

Your argument is completely invalid.

We have not picked first since like 1977. They have picked 1st 4 times in the last 10 years.

We have picked top 3 only twice in the last 10 years.. they have picked top 3 5 times.


Again... please take off your "hater" glasses.
- JVince11

You can add a top 5 pick to this year as well for Buffalo.

But we didn't finish last for two of those

Why does winning the lottery prove your point?

You understand that if you finish last 3 years in a row, that'll be something non one had achieved right?
- HB77

My point is not finishing last... it is that the talent is on EDM and they are continuing to under achieve.

Buffalo has not had ANY WHERE near the talent that EDM has for a LONG time. We are just achieving the level of bad we were supposed to. As sad as that is to say.

The fact is the draft isn't all that matters. So criticizing Edmonton for having a bad team with a bunch of high draft picks is pretty lame. The moves outside the picks is what's held them back.

I can't wait to hear the crickets if the Sabres win the lottery and get Matthews and have 3 top 2 picks in 3 years, and get super defensive if anyone says a word
- sbroads24

I do fully agree with you here... I absolutely do. I said last page I think it was is that it is EDM's inability to draft/trade for a well-balanced team and be able to actually develop players to their abilities that has held them back.

Fully agree there.

Your argument is completely invalid.

We have not picked first since like 1977. They have picked 1st 4 times in the last 10 years.

We have picked top 3 only twice in the last 10 years.. they have picked top 3 5 times.


Again... please take off your "hater" glasses.
- JVince11

Pierre Turgeon

You can add a top 5 pick to this year as well for Buffalo.
- ImThatGuy

Yes... in all likeliness you can. We can hope for better but probably won't happen. Still won't be as good of draft slots as EDM over the past decade though.

McNabb is on LAK 3rd line pairing again now...


Just for all of you still saying we got screwed in that trade because McNabb was a top pairing guy.


(I said that he was paired there to balance 2 pairings a bit but not truly indicative of his current talent level)
- JVince11

No one to my knowledge said McNabb was a "top pair" guy
But just to be able to hang on that top pair with Doughty shows that he's at the very least, a quality NHL defenseman
And it just boggles the mind that the guy is good enough for a team who's truly a Cup contender, but could never get a chance (seemingly) here

Also, we gave up two 2nds with him
Which is A LOT for a 4th liner and a decent prospect

Btw...
Game notes
Arizona won the season series 3-1-1. ... Coyotes senior vice president and assistant general manager Darcy Regier will leave the organization for personal reasons, the team confirmed. Regier was hired in July 2014 after serving as GM of the Buffalo Sabres from 1997-2013

Anyone know what's up with Regier?

Darcy quits...

http://www.azcentral.com/...ersonal-reasons/79729836/

Head's rolling from the John Scott trade?
- Pope of Pucks

You might be onto something.

Pierre Turgeon
- rmiethaner

Right.. I know he was 1st overall.. it was 87 not 77 just realized.

I'm glad you're happy with Leon, he's a darn fine player. And, Yes, we have heard quite a bit about how missing out on McKinnon and Ekblad is one of the excuses for the Oilers whoas. You even tried to make the assumption in an earlier post.

The point still remains, regardless of the reasons Edmonton is yet again in the basement, being coaching, management, draft selection, needing help on defense etc... The Oilers are a stacked team, and have been for some time now. You should be scoring 6-7 goals a game and winning 2/3 of your schedule by that method alone. Move some offense already for capable defensemen, but definitely do not allow the first selection to go to Edmonton. There are much more deserving teams at this point who need Matthews.
- sskkoo1

Link to one post or article stating the oilers need mackinnon.
My response was in reference to your lack of logic remember .....

Scoring 6 or 7 goals!!? Like how?
Connors played 14 games. He's been back for 1.
Nuge is a 65 point two way guy.
We don't know if yaks can score 20
Etc etc etc

I don't even want the pick, but More deserving ??
I suppose that's debateable. Not sure who. I got no pity for the Sabres if that's what you're insinuating

My point is not finishing last... it is that the talent is on EDM and they are continuing to under achieve.

Buffalo has not had ANY WHERE near the talent that EDM has for a LONG time. We are just achieving the level of bad we were supposed to. As sad as that is to say.
- JVince11

But I'm dumb for saying I would trade rosters with them....got it

Yes... in all likeliness you can. We can hope for better but probably won't happen. Still won't be as good of draft slots as EDM over the past decade though.
- JVince11

I'm not going to compare the two teams, because Edmonton has pulled off something we have never seen before.

I expected this year to be a down year (Not this bad I can say)...But after this year, if we aren't sniffing around the wild card, I am going to get concerned.

Damn Nichuskin is a 4th liner in Dallas now....

Ruff..... burring talent.
- JVince11

But we should've drafted him instead of Risto!
Not
And other Stars seem to be performing just fine with Ruff as coach, don't blame him

But we should've drafted him instead of Risto!
Not
And other Stars seem to be performing just fine with Ruff as coach, don't blame him
- jdfitz77

offer a 2nd rd pick for him!

I do fully agree with you here... I absolutely do. I said last page I think it was is that it is EDM's inability to draft/trade for a well-balanced team and be able to actually develop players to their abilities that has held them back.

Fully agree there.
- JVince11

I get that EDM has been in this spot a few years longer than we have, but our problems mirror theirs right now.

It's everyone surrounding the top picks that's the problem....not the top picks

If, we continue to be at the bottom of the league next year and the years after that, than yes, we deserve to be criticized. I don't want to see the Sabres at the bottom of the league next year, many people didn't want to see them at the bottom this year. But, we finally got some high-end draft talent in Reinhart and Eichel, and they are only 50 games into their careers and have this franchise playing a hell of a lot better than last year. If we continue to pick 1-2 for the next five years I would full expect the rest of the league to look at us like WTF already...

Huh? He's producing at a top 10 rate in the league.
- sbroads24

Not the same as being a top10 player at his position, which Ekblad is
Not saying he hasn't had a good streak, but it's way too small a sample size to consider him in Ekblad's league just yet

No one to my knowledge said McNabb was a "top pair" guy
But just to be able to hang on that top pair with Doughty shows that he's at the very least, a quality NHL defenseman
And it just boggles the mind that the guy is good enough for a team who's truly a Cup contender, but could never get a chance (seemingly) here

Also, we gave up two 2nds with him
Which is A LOT for a 4th liner and a decent prospect

Btw...
Game notes
Arizona won the season series 3-1-1. ... Coyotes senior vice president and assistant general manager Darcy Regier will leave the organization for personal reasons, the team confirmed. Regier was hired in July 2014 after serving as GM of the Buffalo Sabres from 1997-2013

Anyone know what's up with Regier?
- jdfitz77

That is just baloney. Just strip it down to sound better there?


Here let me spin it...

We traded a 3rd round pick and returned their 2 very late 2nd round picks for a 3rd and 4th rounder. Did I do it better to help you?

You are all good Fitz. I think Fasching is A LOT better than people give credit for. PPG player and better college stats than Stepan.

My point is not finishing last... it is that the talent is on EDM and they are continuing to under achieve.

Buffalo has not had ANY WHERE near the talent that EDM has for a LONG time. We are just achieving the level of bad we were supposed to. As sad as that is to say.
- JVince11

Hall, ebs, nuge was kinda all this team had for a solid couple years. And they were 19,20 years old. I don't think those three as teenAgers is enough to dominate, do you?

But now that klefbom is developing, Leon's in the mix, Connors back- i think this team might be able to get over the hump
(Need klefbom and nuge actually playing mind you )

My point is not finishing last... it is that the talent is on EDM and they are continuing to under achieve.

Buffalo has not had ANY WHERE near the talent that EDM has for a LONG time. We are just achieving the level of bad we were supposed to. As sad as that is to say.
- JVince11

Maybe the picks the Oiler have made in the top 3 are not really that talented. borderline busts ? I don't buy into the organization doesn't develop the players correctly. Either the player has it or he doesn't.

Who developed Mcdavid ? Crosby? Those guys had it the 1st game in an NHL jersey.

But I'm dumb for saying I would trade rosters with them....got it
- sbroads24

It only works both ways for their side